CatholicCulture.org - Commentary on the Liturgical Yearhttp://www.catholicculture.org//culture/liturgicalyear/blog/index.cfm
Reflections and instruction on the Catholic Liturgical Year.noReflections and instruction on the Catholic Liturgical Year.Lenten Ember Dayshttp://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/blog/index.cfm?id=188
<p>This Wednesday, February 25, within the First Week of Lent marks the beginning of the traditional dates of the Lenten Ember Days. With the reorganization of the Liturgical Year by Vatican II, the Ember Days were retained within the Ordinary Form, but dates and form were left to the episcopal conferences. But this doesn&#39;t restrict obtaining a deeper understanding of this very ancient tradition of the Church, nor does it prevent a personal observance within our domestic churches.</p>Wed, 25 Feb 2015 00:45:00 GMTThe Missing Element In My Lenten Penancehttp://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/blog/index.cfm?id=187
<p>On Ash Wednesday my youngest son asked if the next two days were Holy Thursday and Good Friday. His question reflects my initial feelings of Lent: &quot;We have to do this for 40 days?&quot; I start looking for any kind of respite because I give into &quot;Brother Ass&quot; (as St. Francis referred to the body) so easily.</p>Tue, 24 Feb 2015 00:25:00 GMTIt's About the Cross, Not the #Ashtaghttp://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/blog/index.cfm?id=185
<p><span style="line-height: 1.6;">I was surprised to see controversy arising from the idea of taking an Ash Wednesday selfie showing one&#39;s ashes and posting it on social media. Even the </span><a href="http://www.usccb.org/about/marketing/contest.cfm" style="line-height: 1.6;">USCCB had a contest </a><span style="line-height: 1.6;">using&nbsp;the #ashtag as an entry. While I&#39;m not a fan of hashtags, I did find this one rather clever. Before there was even a Facebook I&#39;ve been taking photos of my children after they received their ashes, so I admit I did snap a selfie with my youngest son and shared it on social media.</span></p>Wed, 18 Feb 2015 21:46:00 GMTCarnival: Part Two, the Final Countdownhttp://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/blog/index.cfm?id=176
<p><em>See <a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/blog/index.cfm?id=179">Carnival Part One: A Season of Contrasts</a> which illustrated&nbsp;how the Carnival season provided a spiritual focus but incorporated both physical and spiritual aspects.</em> &nbsp;</p>Tue, 17 Feb 2015 10:51:00 GMTPreparing for Lent: Seven Lessons the Flu Taught Mehttp://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/blog/index.cfm?id=184
<p>The beginning of Lent is less than a week away. These final days are the last bastion of celebration, but also time to strategize how we will spend this holy season. Unfortunately, my planning came to a halt last week when I was struck down by the flu. Mothers usually are not allowed even one sick day, but this mother required <strong>six</strong> sick days in bed to recover. I have had all sorts of posts planned, some partially drafted, but when you are stricken with headaches, brain fog and fatigue, all writing goes out the window.</p>Fri, 13 Feb 2015 13:39:00 GMTBlaising the Way to Keeping Healthyhttp://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/blog/index.cfm?id=183
<p><a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2015-02-03"><img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/Blaise_Ade_Bethune.jpg" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 3px; float: right; width: 231px; height: 384px;" />February 3rd</a> has the choice of an optional memorial of two different saints: St. Blaise and St. Ansgar. St. Ansgar is a newer addition to the General Roman Calendar for that date.</p>Mon, 02 Feb 2015 21:27:00 GMTReceiving Holy Communion Under Special Circumstances: Continuing the Conversationhttp://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/blog/index.cfm?id=181
<p>Earlier this month I wrote about how formation and catechizing our children can go beyond the simple Q&amp;A catechism and continues, especially in special needs for receiving the Eucharist. (See <a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/blog/index.cfm?ID=175">Baptism Begins a Continuing Catechesis: Special Needs for Communion</a>.)</p>Fri, 23 Jan 2015 14:21:00 GMTCarnival Part One: A Season of Contrastshttp://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/blog/index.cfm?id=179
<p><strong>Lent is a month away.</strong> The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time is exactly 31 days before Ash Wednesday. The Church has entered <em>Tempus ad Annum</em>, &quot;The Season Throughout the Year,&quot; most commonly referred to as &quot;<a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/blog/index.cfm?id=108">Ordinary Time</a>&quot; and will soon enter the six-week period of Lent culminating in the heart of the Liturgy and the Liturgical Year: Easter, the Paschal Feast.</p>Mon, 19 Jan 2015 23:38:00 GMTFitting Resolutionshttp://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/blog/index.cfm?id=177
<p><span style="line-height: 1.6;">From the end of December into January, everyone is abuzz about making&nbsp; New Year&#39;s resolutions. </span>Most resolutions revolve around health<span style="line-height: 1.6;"> of the body: lose weight, exercise more, change bad eating habits. As we enter the third week of January, so many resolutions are already forgotten, broken, or being revised.</span> The new gym memberships are lying fallow and exercise equipment is gathering dust. The gloomy winter weather weakens one&#39;s willpower against comfort foods that are off the diet.</p>Tue, 13 Jan 2015 15:59:00 GMTBaptism Begins a Continuing Catechesis: Special Needs for Communionhttp://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/blog/index.cfm?id=175
<p>The <a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2015-01-11">Feast of the Baptism of the Lord</a> on Sunday (or Tuesday in the Extraordinary Form) marks the end of the Christmas season. The Church changes to green vestments and begins <a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/blog/index.cfm?ID=108">Tempus Per Annum or Ordinary Time</a> (or Time after Epiphany in the Extraordinary Form). This feast can be a reminder of each family member&#39;s baptismal day and baptismal vows. The dinner table centerpiece could be a <a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=274">Christ Candle</a> surrounded by everyone&#39;s baptismal candle (or a candle to represent each person). A white garment or baptismal gown could be displayed prominently. Family prayers can include <a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=1047">renewal of baptismal promises.</a></p>Fri, 09 Jan 2015 16:13:00 GMTen-usnonadult